Not lovin’ it! mcdonald’s to appeal over city drive-thru

MCDONALD’S has launched an appeal after a controversial restaurant in Cardiff was refused a 24-hour licence.

The site in Llanishen, which opened in December, wanted to serve food and drink throughout the night seven days a week. But Cardiff council refused the licence over noise and pollution concerns, and it is now only able to serve from 5am-11pm.

Now the fast-food chain has appealed the decision. A two-day case will be held at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on May 5-6.

Dozens of residents in the area have strongly objected to the site after being concerned about anti-social behaviour and noise.

In September, Cardiff council’s planning committee approved plans for the fast-food drive-thru at the former Harvester. In January, the council’s licencing sub-committee refused permission for a late-night refreshment licence, which would have allowed McDonald’s to also serve between 11pm-5am all week.

Councillor Bob Derbyshire, who is a member of the sub-committee, said it refused McDonald’s a late-night licence over noise and light pollution concerns.

He said at the time: “The main reason was the light pollution from the cars and obviously the signs, and the potential for the noise in what is a quiet area in the evening.”

Dozens of residents and the Cardiff and Vale Public Health Team objected to a late-night licence.

In an email to the council’s licensing department in November, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s executive director of public health Fiona Kinghorn said: “Directly across the road from this premises is a residential development providing 49 retirement apartments for the over-70s.

“Some of these apartments have balconies which look out towards the restaraunt.

“The residents of these properties are likely to suffer disturbance from noise, odours and light pollution, particularly late at night.”

Another resident worried about the smell during the summer.

In a letter sent to the council, the resident wrote: “Thinking ahead to the warmer times of the year, those whose balconies overlook [the McDonald’s] may well want to open their windows to allow air to circulate and create through-draft.

“However, they may be dissuaded from doing so in order to avoid noise pollution and cooking odours.”

Another said they “fear” young people “hanging around making a noise” if it was allowed to open late.

They added: “There is no need for an all night takeaway establishment in this area – there are plenty of shops during the day and other takeaway places not far away at all.”

The planning application for McDonald’s, which does not decide opening hours, was approved in 2019 despite objections from more than 90 people, including the headteacher of a nearby primary school.

The use of the former Harvester to open a McDonald’s restaurant was already “established and lawful”, the planning committee heard in September. During that meeting councillors voted narrowly against restricting the use of the drive-thru between 11.30pm and 7.30am.

Council officers told the committee a restriction on the use of the drive-thru could increase parking in nearby residential streets, and could disturb residents even more if McDonald’s customers are using the car park instead.

McDonald’s did not want to comment.